FIRST-ROUND draft picks Jack Billings and Luke Dunstan were among the eye-catching performers in St Kilda's intra-club game that was played in stifling heat on Saturday morning.
Billings, who was the third player taken in last year's NAB AFL Draft, produced a polished performance in the midfield during the first half, winning a number of possessions and using the ball efficiently.
Having had an injury-interrupted pre-season, he then sat out the second half.
"Billings showed the class that we know he has throughout the first half," St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said after the match at the club's Seaford training base.
"We're going to make sure he's right. I would think that he'll play a fair bit of NAB Challenge footy.
"If his body holds up, then we'll be really excited, and our fans will be really excited, to watch him play."
Dunstan, who was taken with pick 18 in last year's draft, was a consistent contributor in the middle of the ground throughout the contest.
"Dunstan's whole game (was good), really," Richardson said. "He played a bit of inside, a bit of outside. He was impressive.
"Luke's a really mature kid. He's very impressive physically. He's lifting as big a weights as third and fourth-year players, so he's a really powerful guy.
"If he continues, there's every chance he'll play some footy for us early (in the home and away season)."
Richardson was happy with the effort put in by a number of other players.
"Armitage was really impressive," he said. "Hickey kicked three goals.
"I thought that Tommy Curren was a really good player for the team that he played on today.
"I thought Eli Templeton was really impressive. Rookies can play in the NAB Challenge, so he's a real chance. "
Melbourne coach Paul Roos, whose team plays St Kilda in round one of the home and away season, was among the onlookers.
Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt and fellow experienced star Lenny Hayes also watched the game from the sidelines.
"The plan is, all going well, that those boys will play NAB Challenge two and three – up at Wagga against GWS and against Port Adelaide over at Alberton," Richardson said.
The Saints who did brave the heat in the intra-club match have 11 days to recover before their NAB Challenge opener against the Western Bulldogs at Simonds Stadium in Geelong on Wednesday, February 19.
